Bucks Conservatives’ Budget “Flaky” and “Undemocratic” say Buckinghamshire Liberal Democrats

Last Night, Buckinghamshire Liberal Democrats voted against Buckinghamshire Conservatives proposed budget for the Council after it was labelled as 'flaky', 'undemocratic' and 'ignoring local residents and communities.'

At last night's Budget Meeting at Buckinghamshire Council, Liberal Democrat Group Leader Steven Lambert accused the Conservative Council of failing to deliver on the promised cost savings of moving to a Unitary Authority while also failing to deliver their flagship policy

The proposed budget, despite increases in Council Tax and cuts to services, is balanced for the next 3 years by taking money out of the Council's reserves. This is despite the promise of savings from the change to a Unitary Authority.

Some of the biggest savings to come from the move to Unitary will instead come thanks to the Liberal Democrats, after the Boundary Commission backed the Lib Dem proposal to reduce the number of councillors to 98. This was despite objections from the ruling Conservative Administration who wanted 120.

Steven reiterated that case at the meeting stating that reducing the number of councillors to 98, like the Liberal Democrats proposed, will deliver 'half a million pounds of savings.'

The Council's decision to axe funds to local Community Boards was also criticised. The Boards were a flagship proposal of the new Council.

However, according to Steven 'The budget proposals do not demonstrate any significant level of future support for Community Boards and its clear this budget gives them low overall priority.'

The budget has also been criticised for the way it has been drafted, with even some Conservative members in Committee sessions accusing the Council Leadership of acting like a 'dictatorship.'

Summing up Steven said that the Liberal Democrat Group would not be supporting the budget as it was 'so flaky that it needs reserves to go forward, that has its priorities shifted and policy see-sawed on the whim of a cabal.'

If you would like to read the entirety of Steven's speech click here.